Biodynamic constituents in the Mexican morning glories: purgative remedies transcending boundaries.

Jalap, a pre-Hispanic herbal remedy still considered a useful laxative, is an ingredient in some over-the-counter products sold by herbalists in contemporary Mexico. The purgative crude drugs are prepared from the roots of several morning glories species which all have been identified as members of the Ipomoea genus (Convolvulaceae). Their incorporation as therapeutical agents into Europe is an outstanding example of the assimilation of botanical drugs from the Americas as substitutes for traditional Old World remedies. Phytochemical investigations on the resin glycosides, main constituents of these drugs, were initiated during the second half of the XIX century; however, the structures of their active ingredients had remained poorly known, and still are for some members of these purgative root species. Modern analytical techniques with higher resolution capabilities (HPLC) for the isolation of the active principles of these crude drugs used in conjunction with powerful spectroscopic methods (high field NMR) have facilitated the investigation of these relevant, to the herbal product market, convolvulaceous species during the last decade. The advantages and limitations of theses techniques will be discussed. This review will also describe the ethnobotanical information associated with the Mexican morning glory species and how the traditional usages of these plants have played an important role in the selection of these materials for chemical studies. Little is as yet known about either the mechanism of purge action caused by the resin glycosides or the ecological significance of these same compounds for the producing plants. Over the five centuries of Mexican herbal medicine, one hundred years of phytochemistry has only partially elucidated the active ingredients of the jalap roots but has exemplified how to further contemporary drug discoveries through the investigation of those plants traditionally held to be economically and medicinally important in developing countries.

Mitochondrial metabolism impairment in muscle fibres of rats chronically intoxicated with Senna occidentalis seeds.

The chronic administration of S. occidentalis seeds was found to induce a mitochondrial myopathy in hens. This study was undertaken to determine if the chronic treatment with S. occidentalis seeds of rats (as a mammalian model) would induce a mitochondrial myopathy similar to those described in humans and to determine if the histological changes could be correlated with the amount of ingested seeds. Twenty-one days old rats were fed S. occidentalis seeds at different diet concentrations (1, 2, 3%). Rats fed 1% S. occidentalis seeds had only a few COX-negative muscle fibers in the pectoralis major muscle. Rats fed 3% Senna occidentalis seeds had a greater number of COX-negative fibers. Rats fed 2% had an intermediate number of COX-negative fibers. Activity of SDH and NADH-tr were decreased in rats of groups 2% and 3%. Our data indicate that a progressive mitochondrial metabolism impairment can be produced in rats fed S. occidentalis seeds and that this impairment can be correlated with the amount of ingested seeds.

Exame do fluido peritoneal e hemograma de eqüinos submetidos à laparotomia e infusäo intraperitoneal de carboximetilcelulose / Peritoneal fluid exam and hemogram of horses submited to laparotomy and carboxymethylcellulose intraperitoneal infusion

A aplicaçäo intraperitoneal de carboximetilcelulose (CMC) tem sido utilizada na prevençäo de aderências peritoneais em animais e em humanos. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar a resposta do peritônio ao trauma cirúrgico e à aplicaçäo de CMC e estudar como se processa a metabolizaçäo da CMC. Dezenove eqüinos mestiços foram submetidos à laparotomia, quando se produziram lesöes no jejuno distal por abrasäo da serosa e isquemia. Nos 9 eqüinos do grupo tratamento, antes da síntese da parede abdominal, foi instilada, na cavidade peritoneal, uma soluçäo estéril de CMV, a 1 porcento na dose de 7 ml/kg. Nos eqüinos do grupo controle, nenhum medicamento foi aplicado na cavidade peritoneal. Após a cirurgia, colheram-se sangue e fluido peritoneal em 9 momentos: 4 horas após o fim da cirurgia, nos 3 primeiros dias pós-operatórios, pela manhä e a cada 48 horas nos dias subseqüentes ( no 5§, 7§, 9§, 11§ e 13§ dias pós-operatórios). Os exames laboratoriais demonstraram que todos os animais desenvolveram inflamaçäo peritoneal. Entretanto, nos animais do grupo tratamento, esta inflamaçäo foi mais intensa e com um curso mais longo. Observou-se também que a excreçäo da CMC ocorreu por fagocitose.